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Oregon Judicial Department Appellate Court Opinions
IN THE OREGON TAX COURT
MAGISTRATE DIVISION
Tracy D. GRAYBAEL,
Plaintiff,
v.
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE,
Defendant.
(TC-MD 981331)

Plaintiff appealed income tax assessments for 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997 arguing that the income was earned on the Warm Springs Reservation and therefore not subject to Oregon income tax. Defendant challenged the appeal on the grounds that Plaintiff failed to appeal within the 90 days required by ORS 305.280(2). The court determined the sovereign rights of an enrolled member of an Indian tribe living and working on the tribal reservation prevail over the statutory deadline for appeal set forth in ORS 305.280(2)
Jurisdiction - American Indians - Timing of appeal
1. Where a taxpayer appealing an assessment of state income taxes is an enrolled member of an Indian tribe and lives and works on his tribal reservation, the sovereign rights of that tribal member prevail over the appeal time required by ORS 305.280(2).
Income taxation - Jurisdiction - American Indians
2. Where a taxpayer is an enrolled member of an Indian tribe and lives and works on his tribal reservation, the state lacks jurisdiction to tax.

Income taxation - Jurisdiction - American Indians
3. Enrolled members of recognized Indian tribes living and working on tribal reservations are subject to Oregon income tax only to the extent the income is earned off the Reservation.
Oral argument on cross motions for summary judgment was held by telephone February 5, 1999.
Geoffrey Whiting, Karnopp, Petersen, Noteboom, Hansen, Arnett and Sayeg, LLP, Bend, argued the cause for
Plaintiff.

James C. Wallace, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, Salem, argued the cause for Defendant. Decision rendered May 17, 1999.
SALLY L. KIMSEY, Magistrate.
This matter comes before the court on the parties' Cross Motions for Summary Judgment. Plaintiff also asked the court for an injunction to stay enforcement of any collection proceedings. The court heard arguments at a case management conference on February 5, 1999. Geoffrey Whiting represented Plaintiff. Jim Wallace represented Defendant.
Plaintiff appeals his 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997 personal income tax assessments. Defendant assessed Plaintiff for 1993, 1994, and 1995 on January 22, 1997. Defendant denied one half of Plaintiff's refund claim for 1996 on August 11, 1997, and has not made an assessment or denied a refund for 1997. Plaintiff filed his Complaint on April
file:///C|/Users/Peter/Desktop/Opinions/TCMD981331.htm[4/19/2013 11:52:04 AM]
Oregon Judicial Department Appellate Court Opinions
10, 1998. Mr. Wallace stated that during pendency of the appeal, Defendant has stayed collection proceedings against Plaintiff.

FACTS
Tracy Graybael is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. He resides in the town of Warm Springs on the Warm Springs Reservation (Reservation). He works for Portland General Electric on the Pelton-Round Butte Hydroelectric Project. He works at three dams, primarily in the control rooms which are at, or west of, the mid-stream of the Deschutes River. The middle of the channel of the Deschutes River is the boundary of the Reservation. Treaty between the United States and the Tribes of Middle Oregon, 1885, art I, 12 Stat 963. He earns a significant portion of his income on the Reservation.

ANALYSIS
This matter is also before the court on Defendant's assertion, stated in its Answer filed on May 13, 1998, that the court lacks jurisdiction on the ground that Plaintiff failed to appeal within the 90 days required by ORS 305.280(2). (1) Plaintiff's Complaint was not timely filed. Generally, the above statement would be fatal to Plaintiff's case. Defendant argues this course of action on the court, arguing that any relief Plaintiff is entitled to should come via the doubtful liability process. See ORS 305.295. The court disagrees.
1, 2. The United States Supreme Court held in McClanahan v. Arizona Tax Commission , 411 US 164, 177, 93 S Ct 1257, 36 L Ed 2d 129, 138 (1973) that "Congress would not have jealously protected the immunity of reservation Indians from state income taxes had it thought that the States had residual power to impose such taxes in any event." The Court went on to state that "the State is totally lacking in jurisdiction over both the people and the lands it seeks to tax." Id. 411 US at 181, 36 L Ed 2d at 141. Generally, exemptions from taxation should be clearly expressed. Id. 411 US at 176, 36 L Ed 2d at 138. However, "the tradition of Indian sovereignty requires that the rule be reversed when a State attempts to assert tax jurisdiction over an Indian tribe or tribal members living and working on land set aside for those members." Oklahoma Tax Com. v. Sac and Fox Nation, 508 US 114, 124, 113 S Ct 1985, 124 L Ed 2d 30, 40 (1993).

CONCLUSION
3. Plaintiff is an enrolled member of a recognized Indian tribe and lives on his tribe's Reservation. The only matter in
dispute is what portion of his income was earned on the Reservation. The court finds that Plaintiff is subject to Oregon income tax only to the extent Plaintiff had income earned off the Reservation. (2)
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant's and Plaintiff's Cross Motions for Summary Judgment are denied. Plaintiff's request for injunctive relief is denied. This matter shall be set for trial for the sole purpose of determining where Plaintiff earned his income.

1. All references to the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) are to 1997.
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2. The court's holding in Esquiro v. Dept. of Rev., 14 OTR 130 (1997) aff'd per curiam 328 Or 37, 969 P2d 381 (1998) is not inapposite. In Esquiro, the plaintiff earned none of his income on an Indian reservation.
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